pet food

The Louisville Zoo is thrilled to announce the birth of two maned wolf pups. The two females were born February 14 to Sadie and Rocko, both five years old. Each weighed about 7 pounds at the time of their neonatal examinations.

Maned wolf gestation is similar to a domestic dog which is about two months. Sadie has nursed the pups since they were born and they should be weaned at around 4 months of age. Both parents will also regurgitate food to the pups to assist with the transition from milk to solid foods.

The Louisville Zoo is continually seeking the very best methods in nutrition, veterinary care, and animal husbandry and consistently monitors the health of the animals. Prior to the fall/winter breeding season, zoo keepers and veterinary staff developed a plan to optimize the health of both adult wolves. Sadie was underweight, had a poor appetite, and suboptimal stool quality. Following a thorough medical evaluation and treatment plan, a diet change was pursued to improve food intake, body condition, and stool quality. This diet change was achieved with collaboration with the Maned Wolf Species Survival Plan (SSP) nutritionist Dr. Cheryl Morris and Rudy Green’s Doggy CuisineTM creator and President Karla Haas. Special custom-made whole food recipes were developed by these renowned professionals in the field using human grade meats and vegetables. The Rudy Green brand has been producing human grade, gently cooked food for dogs since 2006 and is sold in Kroger pet aisle freezers and online via amazon.

The Louisville Zoo contacted Ms. Haas and together they began experimenting with a custom formulated diet in September 2016. Both wolves were gradually transitioned onto it after initial testing of several recipes. The new diet, in conjunction with recommended nutritional supplements by Dr. Morris, resulted in improvements in overall health. The Louisville Zoo is proud that this team approach has resulted in the birth of two maned wolf pups, the first for the Louisville Zoo in 10 years.

The Rudy Green’s Maned Wolf Diet is nick-named “Sadie’s Stew”and interest in alternative and more healthful diets for the maned wolves is spreading among zoos nationally.

ABOUT MANED WOLVES

The maned wolf is native to South America and can be found throughout Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru and Uruguay. Maned wolves are solitary. The maned wolf is an omnivore. Half of their diet is fruit supplemented with small mammals, birds and reptiles, insects, nuts, eggs and grass. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species lists the maned wolf as threatened.

On Jan. 10, 2017, Pet Fooled, a feature film exposing the underbelly of the commercial pet food industry, will debut in Kentucky at 7:15 p.m. at the Village 8 Theaters in Louisville.

The film, which was directed by Kohl Harrington, follows two integrative veterinarians: Oprah Winfrey’s vet Dr. Barbara Royal and Dr. Karen Becker as they take viewers on an entertaining, honest and heart-wrenching journey challenging the multi-billion-dollar pet food industry of which only four multi-conglomerate companies dominate worldwide sales. Pet Fooled originally premiered at the 2016 Catalina Film Festival, winning the Deb Bauer Humanitarian Award.

My motivation comes from my desire to improve the quality of life for as many dogs as possible.

KARLA HAAS, PRESIDENT/FOUNDER OF RUDY GREENS

“I made this film because I believe every consumer has a right to know exactly what’s in the products that they are purchasing,” Harrington said. “Consumers have a right to question the products they are buying and demand transparency from the companies regarding quality, sourcing, and long term health effects.”

The filmmakers teamed up with Gathr for nationwide, theatrical on-demand screenings. Health-focused pet food stores across the country are participating in the on-demand screenings, urging pet owners to think about the quality and species-appropriateness of the diets they are feeding to their dogs, cats and other animals.

Local companies that stepped up to sponsor the Kentucky screening include Rudy Green’s, which pioneered the human-grade food movement in 2006 with their gently cooked “Doggy Cuisine,” and Barkstown Road, Louisville’s locally-owned boutique that focuses on biologically-appropriate and high-quality diets to help local dogs and cats lead longer, healthier lives, along with offering other high quality products for pets and pet lovers.

The two companies have teamed up to raise money for The Arrow Fund by donating $1 for each ticket sold. The Arrow Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to increasing public awareness of all forms of animal cruelty; providing veterinary care and support to animal victims of extreme torture, abuse, and neglect; and encouraging vigorous criminal prosecution of animal abusers.

The film was represented by Joe Della Rossa and Craig Gering at CAA and acquired by Dan Fisher of Gravitas Ventures. The film is produced by Michael Fossat. Tickets for the local showing can be reserved/purchased online at https://gathr.us/screening/18504.

For more information about the Jan. 10 screening in Louisville, contact: